Do you remember these blocks of Coleman Highlands?

In this area of Coleman Highlands, census records from 1920-1940 detail large households of several children headed, most often, by a manager or salesman.

Census records from 1920-1940 show a two-block area of Coleman Highlands as a thriving section of the Midtown’s Redemptorist Parish – its well-built homes packed with large Catholic families. A reader asked for more information about W. 33rd Street Terrace in Coleman Highlands, so today’s look back at history includes the area from the south side of W. 33rd Street to the north side of W. 34th Street between Coleman Road and Karnes.

What the census tells: 1920-1940

Many of the homes still standing on this block were already occupied by families when the 1920 census was done. The homes were mostly owned rather than rented, and occupied by families including both first-generation Irish, English and Russian immigrants alongside those born in the United States. Large families were common, not surprising as this area of Coleman was advertised as part of the Redemptorist Parish, the area around the large Catholic church at Broadway and Linwood. A handful of households had a live-in housekeeper or other servant, while others counted a boarder or two among their household members. The men of these homes worked middle-class jobs as grocery store owners, building contractors, stockyard and board of trade workers. Several daughters worked as teachers.

By 1930, many of the families who lived on these blocks had moved on, replaced by other middle-class families. The heads of household most often listed their occupations as managers and salesmen, along with some city workers, a police department employee, a dentist and a lawyer. Chief of Detectives Edward Doyle lived at 924 W. 34th Street. Two households had servants in this census report.

A decade later, in 1940, many of the families had changed again. This census again shows families with several children, which often included extended family members such as mothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and cousins. Salesmen and business managers were still among the most popular occupations, living among steam railroad workers, public school teachers and custodians.

(See photos of all homes of the blocks at the end of this post.)

The following are some of the census records available for the area between 1920 and 1940.

1920 Census

914 W. 33rd Street in 1940.

33rd Street (south side)

943 W 33rd Street: Irish-born county marshal Timothy Casey lived here with his wife Mary, three daughters and a boarder.

937 W 33rd Street: Grocery store proprietor Elizabeth Kerner, the Nebraska-born daughter of German parents, lived here with her three daughters and two boarders.

925 W 33rd Street: John C. Lynch, who worked in the cement industry, lived here with his wife Mary and two sons.

1930 census

3330 Karnes: Real estate salesman Walter Norton rented here with his wife Mary and daughter Louise. Also listed at this address were Jeremiah F. Leary, a grain operator with the board of trade and his wife Anne.

3344 Karnes: Steam railroad traveling accountant Roy Lee Underwood and his wife Effe lived here. Also listed at this address was Edward Corbett, a music company warehouse superintendent, and his wife Edith.

34th Street (north side)

912 W. 34th Street: Vincent O’Flarity, in the real estate business, lived with his wife Josephine and three sons.

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6 Comments

Thanks so much as always for putting this compilation together. I know it must have taken quite a bit of time!
Just for you to know, I ended up buying about a dozen of your books during the Christmas time for the Coleman Highland welcome baskets. They’re beautiful.
And, in addition, in case one of the neighbors don’t get your e-mails, I’ll pass this onward for all that have e-mail to read.
Cathie Chesen

Would love to get some information on the 800 block of East 31st Terrace/Glenairy Place. It’s one of those narrow no sidewalk streets with a ally running down the back.. Walt Bodine said it was originally called Glenairy Place and much later was changed to 31st Terrace. I grew up at #811 from 1958 to 1968. Oh, and it lies between Campbell and Charlotte. Thanks!

My friend, Herbert Ziegler, Jr will be delighted with the information you found. He and his parents and brother and 2 sisters live in the house on 925 W. 33rd Terrace. He remembers the good times he and his family had living there. He remembers a lot of the neighbors. He had told me about the house and the neighborhood. I printed the information for him. He has been sick with a bad case of the flu.